Flags, colours, and their use

[MSTRS:Me]

It is often apparent that *some* riders, due to inexperience or ... (bloodimindedness?), do not respond as requested by the flag marshalls, who make a judgement call or are acting under radioed instructions from the tower.
There was a situation at Manfield 25/7/9 where a racer was spewing fluids and was individually redded to got off NOW, but who in fact continued round the track to the pits, but first moved from the inside of the track to the outside right at the entry to the fastest corner (Dunlop sweeper into the main straight).
The whole event was held up for some 40 minutes while the cleanup was undertaken.
Now, I know that all racers are told in briefing of the flags and their meanings (plus I believe they have the same info in their rulebooks), but not everyone hears/remembers what's said at briefing.
so....In an effort to help with flag recognition especially for noobs, especially in an easily read format without pressure affecting ability to take it all in, the following post has the full breakdown.

Note - if anything I put in the flag post is wrong or misleading, let me know and I'll change if necessary


This is the controversy that sparked this thread...use of a flag that is not in the rule book, and was not correct - (In rare cases, an individual rider may be signalled with a red flag at a marshall point. That rider is to leave the track now. That means get off the track, onto the grass/whatever and out of the way as indicated by that marshall.)
The use was meaningless, and this thread is an attempt to explore and find a solution

[MSTRS:Me]

6-19 The following flags will be recognised as the standard colours to be used as signals to riders during a race:

Green: Start

Red: All riders stop racing.

Yellow: Held Stationary – SLOW DOWN – Proceed with caution. No overtaking until danger area is passed. Sidecar riders-this could also mean your passenger is in difficulties.

Yellow: Waved – SLOW DOWN NOW – Proceed with extreme caution. No overtaking until the danger area is passed, be prepared to stop.
For MX & SX: Whether the yellow flag be stationary or waved: this means no jumping at all.

White: Last lap.

Black: Individual rider to stop and retire from course. The rider’s number must be shown on a board at the same point as the black flag is displayed.

Black and White Check: Finish for all riders.

Red and Yellow Stripes: Oil on course. Or other slippery substances (such as lime laid on oil spills). May also be used for debris that is unable to be removed at that point.

Red and White Cross: Ambulance on course, proceed with caution.

Black with Orange Centre: Road Race Only: Machine to be removed from the circuit immediately. The rider’s number must be shown on a board at the same point as the flag is displayed.

Black and White Stripe: Oval Track Only, Competitor under protest. The rider’s number must be shown on a board at the same point as the flag is displayed.

Blue Waved: SX Only. Warning you are about to be lapped.
Blue Waved Road Racing: Overtaking signal warning rider is about to be overtaken.

Blue Held Stationary Road Racing: Indicates that competitor is soon to be overtaken.

Purple: MX Protest Flag.

Flags must be a minimum size of 24” x 24” (600mm x 600mm).

Generally speaking, for club racing the only flags used will be ...

At the Start/Finish line
Green - for starts
White - for last lap
Black/White checkered - race over. Continue around and leave track via pit entrance (or as indicated by a posted marshall, as at slip lanes).
Black - with displayed rider number - rider is being ordered off the track.
Red - as below

At the individual Marshall Points
Red waved - race is temporarily stopped, all riders drop off speed and with caution circulate to pit entrance (or sliplane as indicated by a marshall), leave the track and form up on the dummy grid in pitlane, until released by track officials.
Yellow held - bike/rider down, generally are off the track. Proceed with caution until past the next marshal point NOT displaying a yellow, NO overtaking
Yellow waved - as above but also - Drop speed immediately, expect debris on the track
Red/Yellow Striped held or waved - oil or other slippery substance/s on the track
Blue held or waved - a faster bike/s is about to overtake you, hold your speed and line

In rare cases, an individual rider may be signalled with a red flag at a marshall point. That rider is to leave the track now. That means get off the track, onto the grass/whatever and out of the way as indicated by that marshall.

[Tony.OK]

Not to be picky but why the red flag?
Wouldn't the black be better and less confusing? Thats what its for.


Oh never mind..........just saw that the marshallpoints don't have em. Might be worth looking into to save confusion perhaps?

[MSTRS:Me]

Not to be picky but why the red flag?
Wouldn't the black be better and less confusing? Thats what its for.


Oh never mind..........just saw that the marshallpoints don't have em. Might be worth looking into to save confusion perhaps?

Perhaps. Remember, it is a rare case, and use of black flag requires rider number too. And we marshalls are an illiterate lot, without marker pens etc.

[Duke girl]

Originally Posted by MSTRS
It is often apparent that *some* riders, due to inexperience or ... (bloodimindedness?), do not respond as requested by the flag marshalls, who make a judgement call or are acting under radioed instructions from the tower.
There was a situation at Manfield 25/7/9 where a racer was spewing fluids and was individually redded to got off NOW, but who in fact continued round the track to the pits, but first moved from the inside of the track to the outside right at the entry to the fastest corner (Dunlop sweeper into the main straight).
The whole event was held up for some 40 minutes while the cleanup was undertaken.
Now, I know that all racers are told in briefing of the flags and their meanings (plus I believe they have the same info in their rulebooks), but not everyone hears/remembers what's said at briefing.
so....In an effort to help with flag recognition especially for noobs, the following post has the full breakdown.

Also in the Race Program under the heading Riders Briefing (Flags) page 5, gives you a list of the Flags, their colours and what they mean. It is put into the Race Program for all Riders to read and also to understand so that if they are used out on the track during a Race all Riders should know and understand what that flag means and what they are expected to do. Racing is not just about hopping on a bike and going hell for leather its all about knowing the Rules, Regulations and especially knowing the Flags.

[crazzed]

this doesn't allow for monkeys(spectators) waving shirts etc of varying colurs(black) over the wall at the start finish line marshall point. as at round 2. what happens then.

[MSTRS:Me]

this doesn't allow for monkeys(spectators) waving shirts etc of varying colurs(black) over the wall at the start finish line marshall point. as at round 2. what happens then.

Skeepy gets hold of them....

[crazzed]

Skeepy gets hold of them....

still waiting to hear what's happening over this. still pissed about it.

[MSTRS:Me]

Sorry, I have no idea, and hadn't heard of it. I simply marshal out on the track. And so only need to concern myself with what riders do as a result of (my) flag calls.

[crazzed]

Sorry, I have no idea, and hadn't heard of it. I simply marshal out on the track. And so only need to concern myself with what riders do as a result of (my) flag calls.

happended last round as i checked up accross the line and got swamped by following riders from the lead then crashed at higgins remembering i was only in clubmans. now bike totaled and cant ride for few months due to injuries.

[ajturbo]

hey MSTRS...

i was on the end of a mic (ear peice ).. and i heard the MNZ Steward asking point after point to get a flag out to stop that rider...... NOT one seamed to know what
"get that flag out to stop that rider" meant

now as you know, i was only in the pits and i was only watching it all unfold, the said rider was told in no uncertain words, (from the mnz rep and our track boss)that what he did was wrong and what he should have done... that rider will NEVER make that same mistake... and i do hope that other racers will learn from it...

we were lucky out there yesterday, all it cost was some time.....

learning the flags from a racer's point of view...

ANY person want to race in NZ needs to join a club and buy a MNZ race licence.. then race....

what WE need to do is change that... follow the aussies ( yeah i know it's that bad..lol)

NO-ONE can race untill the pass a test... you cannot progress up the ranks untill you have shown you have the ablity/knowledge to do so..

but is the MNZ doing anything about this?????

..

thats right... nothing.....

NOTE: these are MY views ONLY not of ANY CLUB

[Nasty]

this doesn't allow for monkeys(spectators) waving shirts etc of varying colurs(black) over the wall at the start finish line marshall point. as at round 2. what happens then.

The answer to your question is two fold:

First lap of qualifying all points are required to show the yellow flag held stationary to indicate to riders where they are - so they will be aware of where they should look.

Second spectators (or monkeys as you call them - which is just really nice) should never wave anything - they should be shot. But that point needs to be raised formally with the Club - direct an email to race@vicclub.co.nz so that it can be addressed at their monthly meeting - and ask for a response.

[crazzed]

The answer to your question is two fold:

First lap of qualifying all points are required to show the yellow flag held stationary to indicate to riders where they are - so they will be aware of where the should look.

Second spectators (or monkeys as you call them - which is just really nice) should never wave anything - they should be shot. But that point needs to be raised formally with the Club - direct an email to race@vicclub.co.nz so that it can be addressed at their monthly meeting - and ask for a response.

i have spoken to skip, clive and dee after the incident still waiting to hear back. still pissed as missed this round and still laid up with cast on leg. just venting.

[ajturbo]

happended last round as i checked up accross the line and got swamped by following riders from the lead then crashed at higgins remembering i was only in clubmans. now bike totaled and cant ride for few months due to injuries.

IF you had known what the flags were...

and remembered where they were (as they are always shown on the first time around for every class)

maybe you would not have been distracted???

this brings up another one of MY points.....

how many racers do you see walk/push bike around the track, making mental notes of what is where, what the track is like, where the flags should be, pot-holes, white lines... etc..

it is up to YOU to know what you are racing on.... we do a track inspection, and tell of anything we think you may need to know... but unless YOU take a look for yourself...... how will you know?????

now don't say there is no time!!!!!!!!!!!
the gates are open at 7am, rider's brief is 8:30ish........

AJ

[Nasty]

i have spoken to skip, clive and dee after the incident still waiting to hear back. still pissed as missed this round and still laid up with cast on leg. just venting.

Informal vs formal channels and forcing the answers. Speak to whoever you want - things that are documented will be dealt with - things that aren't will fall to the wayside (the meetings are extremely busy and things that are not raised formally don't always get priority.